2018 NFL Week 14 Recap

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw the ball as Frank Clark #55 of the Seattle Seahawks looks for the sack in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Vikings 7
Seahawks 21 No matter where he plays, it seems like Kirk Cousins’ career on Monday Night Football is doomed. He’s now 0-7 on MNF amid rumors of strife within the coaching staff of an underachieving team with a middling record. It sounds like he never really left Washington. And Seattle looks like a team nobody wants to see in the playoffs. Dallas better hope they can pull themselves above the NFC’s 4-seed, or else their postseason will be brief (as usual). (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09:  Bradley Sowell #79 of the Chicago Bears completes the pass for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Rams 6
Bears 15 In a game befitting a matchup between the last two Defensive Players of the Year, Khalil Mack helped Chicago’s ferocious defense hold the high-flying Rams offense to season-lows in scoring and yardage (214 yards), and forced Jared Goff into four turnovers and three sacks on a night when the lone touchdown was scored by an offensive lineman. If Matt Nagy can get more from his offense, the Bears will be a dangerous draw in the playoffs. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) scores a 15-yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime of an NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Dallas won 29-23. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Eagles 23
Cowboys 29 (OT) In what played out like a present-day example of Dave Chappelle’s “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong,” Dallas all but won the NFC East while putting Kamu Grugier-Hill (who?) in his place by rolling up 576 yards on his defense after his true-but-maybe-don’t-jinx-it comments. The question is no longer if the Cowboys win the division — it’s whether they’re actually good enough to win a game or two in the postseason. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Tight end Lee Smith #86 of the Oakland Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown  in front of linebacker Vince Williams #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
Steelers 21
Raiders 24 This looks like a big upset on paper, but if you’ve paid attention to Pittsburgh’s track record out west, this was actually a predictable outcome. The Steelers should spend the week thanking the football gods the Ravens’ upset bid in Kansas City fell short. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes his 1,282nd career catch to surpass NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most receptions with one team in NFL history in the second half of the NFL game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Lions 17
Cardinals 3 Matthew Stafford’s magic is gone, but the real Fitzmagic was apparent in Arizona when Larry Fitzgerald passed Jerry Rice as the all-time leader for career catches with one team. Larry Legend really doesn’t deserve this awful season. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Darius Philon (93) celebrates his sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jeff Driskel, next to teammate Desmond King (20) on a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Bengals 21
Chargers 26 Strangely, L.A. playing down to another heavy underdog and winning anyway makes me feel even better about my Super Bowl expectations for them. If the Chargers can manufacture ways to win even without Melvin Gordon, just wait till these guys get him back for the playoffs. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs with the ball away from Denver Broncos strong safety Will Parks (34) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Broncos 14
49ers 20 I mean, it’s pretty hard to argue with Kyle Shanahan preferring San Fran over Denver in a battle of his dad’s old stomping grounds when the QB-deficient Broncos blew a great chance to keep pace in the playoff race against the younger Shanahan’s dead team walking. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Josh Johnson #8 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 9, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Giants 40
Redskins 16 In the ‘Skins’ first home game since the news they’re working to go back to the future for a new home, they followed up the worst first half in the history of FedEx Field with a second half that featured Josh Johnson (in his historically long NFL drought) demonstrating exactly why he’s the better of the Redskins’ bad options at QB. Football season in Washington is over, and heads will likely roll for it. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 09: Outside linebacker Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs strips the football from quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won in overtime, 27-24. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Ravens 24
Chiefs 27 (OT) Lamar Jackson’s best passing day in his short career was undermined by a late fumble that ultimately allowed Patrick Mahomes to give us one more reason to compare him to an all-time great and help the top scoring offense beat the top scoring defense head-to-head late in the season for the fifth time in the last six such games. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 09: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball for the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida.  (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Patriots 33
Dolphins 34 Call it the Miami Miracle, the South Beach Stunner — or simply call it Tom’s Trend. The Super Bowl era’s longest game-winning TD with triple-zeroes on the clock dropped Tom Brady to just 7-10 in his career when taking his talents to South Beach, including an awful 1-6 mark with 10 interceptions in December games in Miami. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Eric Ebron #85 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a touchdown reception against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Colts 24
Texans 21 Eric Ebron — who already has more touchdowns in 13 games as a Colt (13) than in 56 games as a Detroit Lion (12) — helped Andrew Luck get back on track and keep Indy’s playoff hopes alive and well in the AFC, and snap Houston’s 9-game win streak in the process. It just feels like the Colts will always have the Texans’ number. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 09: Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints breaks a tackle from Adarius Taylor #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Saints 28
Bucs 14 While Saints ownership is spreading holiday cheer, they might as well pay off the rest of the empty seats at Raymond James Stadium since the Bucs so graciously gave up 25 unanswered points to allow New Orleans to clinch the NFC South on their torrentially drenched turf. Given his all-purpose exploits and the Saints seemingly destined to march into Super Bowl LIII, don’t be surprised if there’s soon a Crescent City band called “The Taysom Hill Project.” (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 09:  Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers evades a diving Jack Crawford #95 of the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 09, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Falcons 20
Packers 34 Even though he was as challenge-happy as a novice Madden 19 player, Joe Philbin’s first play-calling performance in more than two decades went surprisingly well. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s got the great Aaron Rodgers in the midst of an NFL-record 368 straight passes without an interception. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 09:  Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Panthers 20
Browns 26 In this battle of former Heismann Trophy-winning QBs picked first overall, Baker Mayfield became the third QB in the Super Bowl era to throw a TD in each of his first 10 games and somehow still has Cleveland in playoff contention. Gregg Williams is making a helluva case to shed the interim tag — even if Mayfield’s college coach is ready to join him in the pros. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(1/16)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw the ball as Frank Clark #55 of the Seattle Seahawks looks for the sack in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09:  Bradley Sowell #79 of the Chicago Bears completes the pass for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) scores a 15-yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime of an NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Dallas won 29-23. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Tight end Lee Smith #86 of the Oakland Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown  in front of linebacker Vince Williams #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes his 1,282nd career catch to surpass NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most receptions with one team in NFL history in the second half of the NFL game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Darius Philon (93) celebrates his sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jeff Driskel, next to teammate Desmond King (20) on a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs with the ball away from Denver Broncos strong safety Will Parks (34) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Josh Johnson #8 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 9, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 09: Outside linebacker Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs strips the football from quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won in overtime, 27-24. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 09: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball for the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida.  (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Eric Ebron #85 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a touchdown reception against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 09: Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints breaks a tackle from Adarius Taylor #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 09:  Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers evades a diving Jack Crawford #95 of the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 09, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 09:  Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Rob Woodfork

Rob Woodfork is WTOP's Senior Sports Content Producer, which includes duties as producer and host of the DC Sports Huddle, nightside sports anchor and sports columnist on WTOP.com.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up